Chute launcher



Oct. 5, 1965 G. c. FISHER GHUTE LAUNCHER Filed Sept. 25, 1963 INVENTOR.66'086'6' C. F/Sl/f/F HTTOAF/VIY United States Patent 3,209,487 CHUTELAUNCHER George Cecil Fisher, 1603 Dewitt Drive, Dayton, Ohio FiledSept. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 311,408 8 Claims. (Cl. 46-86) This inventionrelates to apparatus for launching a parachute or similar device from anelevated track. It has particular significance in the toy art and willbe so described. However, it should become evident from the followingthat its application is not so limited and such is not intended.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved device forlaunching parachutes and the like from an elevated track which is simpleand economical to fabricate, more elficient and satisfactory in use,adaptable to a wide variety of applications and unlikely to malfunction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel unit for launchingtoy parachutes or the like from a kite string.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means forlaunching parachutes or similar devices from an elevated trackconsisting of a cable, cord or string.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means forlaunching a parachute or similar device incorporating novel connectorand release mechanism.

An additional object of the invention is to provide novel means forlaunching a parachute or similar device from an elevated trackpossessing the advantageous structural features, the inherent,meritorious characteristics, and the means and mode of operation hereindescribed.

With the above and other incidental objects in view, as will more fullyappear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected byLetters Patent consists of the features of construction, the part andcombinations thereof, and the mode of operation as here and afterdescribed or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or theirequivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein is shown one but notnecessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a toy parachute launching unit in accordance with theinvention applied to a track in the form of a kite string;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the chute connector untilized in the device ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the trolley portion of the device of FIG.1; and

FIG. 4 provides a view of the launching of a parachute in the operationof the device illustrated.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

The invention embodiment illustrated affords an amusement device whichmay be applied to any string 1 carried aloft by a kite 2. It includes atrolley portion 3 and a connector 4, the latter serving to releasablyconnect a parachute assembly 5.

The trolley portion 3 includes a U-shaped frame 6 providing spacedparallel leg portions 7 having aligned apertures in their adjacentprojected extremities. The projected extremities of the 'legs-7 arebridged by the pin portion 8 of a lock-arm 9 which is press-fit throughthe aforementioned apertures. The lock-arm 9 consists of the pin portion8 and an arm portion 10 formed integral withand at right angles to oneend thereof. The projected extremity of the arm portion 10 has the formof a rightangled hook 11 directed in the sense of and parallel to thepin portion 8. On assembly of the lock-arm 9 to the frame 6, the pinportion 8 rotatably mounts a pulley 12 between the leg portions 7 andarm portion 10 lies parallel and adjacent to the outer side of one legportion 7, the latter of which has a recess 11' accommodating apress-fit of the hook 11.

Fixed to project centrally from the bridging portion of the frame 6 andin the plane of the pulley 12 is a hook member 13 mounting a weight 14adjacent to the frame.

As shown in the drawings, the assembly 5 consists of a parachute 15, thelines of Which commonly connect to a hook 16 mounting a fixed weight 17adjacent thereto.

The connector element 4, as illustrated, consists of a rectangularsection 18 of paper or similar substance having a pair of spacedapertures 19 and 20 respectively adjacent opposite edges thereof andspaced therefrom. In the line of the apertures 19 and 20 and extendinginwardly from one of said opposite edges to the aperture 19 is a row ofperforation 21. In effect, the row of perforations provides a localizedweakening of the connector 4 in communication with the aperture 19.

As seen from the drawings, the connector 4 accommodates the hook 13 ofthe trolley device 3 through its aperture 19 and the hook 16 of theparachute assembly 5 through its aperture 20.

The assembly thus provided may be readily applied to the kite string onremoval of the lock-arm 9, whereupon the pulley 12 may be displaced topermit the string 1 to be nested between the leg portions 7 of the frame6. On reassembly of the pulley 12 through the medium of the lock-arm 9,pulley 12 will accommodate the string 1 in its peripheral groove in amanner believed obvious. The nature and character of the lock-arm 9 issuch to insure a fixed containment of the pulley 12 with reference tothe frame 6.

The entire unit including the trolley device 3, the connector 4 and theparachute assembly 5 is thereby interengaged in the kite string 1 totrack thereon. On occurrence of a suitable gust of wind, the canopydefined by the parachute 15 will be filled, causing it to elevate andpull the trolley device 3 upwardly of the string 1 through the medium ofthe connector 4. There will be a natural containment of the stringwithin the confines of the grooved portion of the pulley 12 as thetrolley device is pulled upwardly of the string until it engages with orabuts a peg-like stop 22 anchored in any suitable fashion to the string1 adjacent the kite 2. When the upward advance of the trolley device 3is suddenly interrupted by engagement of the pulley 12 with the stop 22,the pull of the expanded parachute 15 with reference to the trolleydevice through the medium of the connector 4 will cause a severing ofthe connector 4 by the hook element 13 on the line of its weakenedportion defined by the perforations 21. As this occurs, the expandedchute assembly 5 isautomatically launched, assuming a verticalorientation under the influence of the weight 17 on its connected hook16. The parachute assembly will then descend in a conventional manner.The weight 14 on the trolley device will cause the frame 6 to depend onrelease of the chute assembly and carry the trolley device downwardly ofthe string 1 under the influence of gravity. The descent of the trolleydevice is simple and smooth due to the containment of the string as itprovides a track for the pulley 12.

This simple but efiective connector means insures a prompt and positiverelease of the parachute assembly from the trolley device at the instantof interruption of the trolley movement by the stop element 22. There ispractically no possibility of malfunction in the launching of aparachute as described. Moreover, the connector means as employed is soinsignificant in cost as to render it readily disposable. Thus, one needonly replace the connector 4 to reconnect the chute assembly 5 to thetrolley device 3.

It should be evident also that the trolley device is so simplyfabricated to insure a free and fluid movement thereof whether upwardlyor downwardly of the string 1.

In the alternative to forming the connector 4 as described in thepreferred embodiment, the connector 4 may be formed of any suitable,flexible material and the perforations 21 replaced by a slit whichcommunicates with the aperture 19. In such event, when the entireassembly moves upwardly under the influence of the expanded canopy ofthe chute 15 and the pulley 12 comes into abutment with the stop 22, thepull of the wind on the expanded canopy of the parachute will cause theslit in the connector 4 to be spread in an obvious manner by the hook 13which passes therethrough to release the chute assembly and theconnector 4 therewith.

It should be clear that the perforations or slit employed may in thealternative communicate the aperture 20. In such case, the connector 4will remain with the trolley assembly on release of the parachuteassembly 5.

Thus, a simple but very effective toy device for launching parachutes orsimilar elements from a kite string is enabled by the present invention.It should be apparent to those versed in the art that while the deviceis referenced by way of example to the toy art, the same principles andstructure as described herein may be readily adapted to similar and morepractical purposes. Such is contemplated as being within the scope ofthe present invention.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail con struction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect,and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim:

1. For use in combination with a parachute or the like for launchingthereof from an elevated track having limit means thereon, a carrierunit consisting of a trolley device adapted for free movement on thetrack to a degree limited only by the limit means thereon, deformableconnector means on said trolley device including an apertured portionfor engagement thereof by the parachute or the like and a portionadapted to physically spread on a pull being exerted on said connectormeans to afford a release of the parachute or the like from said trolleydevice.

2. A launching device for a parachute assembly or the like comprising atrolley device, a connector means for engagement therewith and to aparachute assembly or the like, said connector means consisting of asingle element weakened in an area thereof to provide a separationtherein on a pull being exerted thereon referenced to the parachuteassembly or the like.

3. A launching device for a parachute assembly or the like comprising, atrolley device, a paper-like connector element in connection with saidtrolley device having means accommodating a connection of a parachuteassembly or the like thereto, said connector means including a row ofperforations providing a line on which it tears to provide a release ofsaid parachute assembly or the like from said trolley device on a pullbeing exerted on said connector means referenced to said parachuteassembly or the like.

4. A launching device for a parachute assembly or the like comprising, atrolley device, a deformable sheet-like connector element having spacedapertures, means on said trolley device for engagement of said elementthrough one of said spaced apertures, the other said spaced aperturesproviding means for engagement thereof to a parachute assembly or thelike and means defining a line of separation in said elementcommunicating with at least one of said apertures whereby on a directpull on said element referenced to said parachute assembly, saidconnector element will automatically open on said line of separation toprovide a release of the parachute assembly or the like from saidtrolley device.

5. A launching device for a parachute assembly or the like consisting ofa U-shaped frame having trolley-type track engaging means to one end andhook means to an opposite end, deformable parachute connector means forengaging a parachute assembly or the like to said hook means formed toprovide a physical separation thereof from said hook means on pullthereon.

6. Apparatus for launching a parachute assembly or the like from anelevated trackconsisting of a U-shaped frame, a pulley element rotatablymounted between the legs of said U-shaped frame, a connector elementhaving spaced apertures, engaging means on said frame projected throughone of said spaced apertures, the other of said spaced aperturesadapting said connector element for hooking a parachute or the likethereto, said connector element being formed to provide for physicalmovement therethrough of means engaged through one said aperture toprovide for separation of the parachute or the like from said frame.

7. Launching apparatus, including a movable frame; an object to belaunched; and a connection therebetween, including an expendablerupturable connector member, and opposed connections from said frame andsaid object to said member at least one of which is a rigid hook-likedevice applying a rupturing force to said member upon suddeninterruption of the movement of said frame whereby to separate saidobject from said frame.

8. Launching apparatus, including a movable frame; an object to belaunched; and a connection therebetween, including opposed connectionsextending toward one another from said frame and said objectrespectively, at least one of said connections terminating in a rigidhooklike extremity, and an expendable rupturable connector member towhich said connections are attached, said hooklike extremity tearingthrough and separating from said connector member upon suddeninterruption in the movement of said frame, said member having anaperture receiving said hook-like extremity and being formed with aweakened tear line extending from said aperture to an edge of saidmember.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,279,152 4/42Whitehurst 244- 2,396,126 3/46 Quilter et al. 244-148 2,680,584 6/54Lucci et al. 244-155 2,936,545 5/60 Enterkin 46-86 3,006,586 10/61Strelakos 244-155 3,052,434 9/62 Tucci 244-155 FOREIGN PATENTS 598,7605/60 Canada.

FERGUS S. MIDDLETON, Primary Examiner.

1. A FOR USE IN COMBINATION WITH A PARACHUTE OR THE LIKE FOR LAUNCHINGTHEREOF FROM AN ELEVATED TRACK HAVING LIMIT MEANS THEREON, A CARRIERUNIT CONSISTING OF A TROLLEY DEVICE ADAPTED FOR FREE MOVEMENT ON THETRACK TO A DEGREE LIMITED ONLY BY THE LIMIT MEANS THEREON DEFORMABLECONNECTOR MEANS ON SAID TROLLEY DEVICE INCLUDING AN APERTURED PORTIONFOR ENGAGEMENT THEREOF BY THE PARACHUTE OR THE LIKE AND A PORTIONADAPTED TO PHYSICALLY SPREAD ON A PULL BEING EXERTED ON SAID CONNECTORMEANS TO AFFORD A RELEASE OF THE TEMPERATURE OR THE LIKE FROM SAIDTROLLEY DEVICE.